Simon is from an old British motor-racing family. He started his career at Coys, leaving to co-found Bonhams Europe in Geneva. Over the next decade, he staged high-profile auctions around the world, branching out on his own in 2006 to found Kidston SA, a consultancy responsible for some of the larger deals you rarely hear about. Simon also judges at Pebble Beach and is “the voice” of the Villa d’Este Concours and the Mille Miglia.

Derived for sport, this aluminum Gullwing did not see competitive use. Completed on April 20, 1955, 5500208 was appropriately finished in metallic silver gray over a blue leather interior. The 300SL was also outfitted with Rudge wheels, the NSL motor and Plexiglas windows per aluminum-build specifications.

On May 27, 1955, the alloy Gullwing was shipped to Veron Holz of Bonita, CA. Although the early history of this Gullwing is not known, there is Read More

The development of the Ferrari 250 TR began in early 1957 with the car presented here, 0666 TR, which has the distinction of serving as the first prototype for the 250 Testa Rossa series.

0666 TR made its debut at the Nürburgring 1,000 Km, coming 6th in qualifying and 10th in the race. It then underwent development and appeared at the Swedish Grand Prix equipped with an experimental 3.1-liter engine, but this gave out, and Read More

A car, especially at auction, has to have that “wow” factor to excite bidders, and this one really did

The Miura presented here is, quite simply, unlike any other.

Issued production number 576, this Lamborghini represents the end result of a project undertaken by the factory’s chief development engineer and test driver, Bob Wallace, to create the definitive Miura—the SV. As a prototype, this car was equipped with features that made it Read More

This was the last Porsche racer you could collect at the factory and drive home

This Porsche, 904017, was one of 31 examples destined for American shores. Originally finished in silver with a blue velour interior, the 904 was sold to local Porsche dealer and successful racer Don Wester of Monterey, CA. It was fitted with an air deflector and painted with a central stripe in yellow and black, Wester’s racing colors.

Decried by some as vulgar when new—the British press notably nicknamed the coachwork “Phony and Flashy”—time has been kind to Figoni’s work.

While all Teardrops were quite unique, chassis 90034 may well be the most unique of all. It is the only example built on the longer Lago Speciale chassis—some 11.8 inches longer than the SS. In the world of important French cars, provenance is second only to design, and 90034 stands as one of the Read More

Chassis 64GX left Crewe as a standard Phantom II saloon, but in the late 1970s, Rolls-Royce collector Nicholas Harley of London decided to create a showcase of British engineering might. The restoration that ensued spanned approximately seven years, during which time the Phantom II frame was lengthened, reinforced and fitted with this lovely Gurney Nutting-inspired body constructed by Wilkinson’s of Derby, and a 27-liter Mk I Merlin V12 engine was fitted, fed by two fuel pumps delivering 100 gallons per Read More

The Mondial evokes the larger and more powerful 375 MM. Those who can live without the extra eight cylinders will find their reward in the bank

This Ferrari 1954 500 Mondial was the sixth of 22 Series I motorcars constructed. Scuderia Ferrari prepared a group of Mondials to compete at the 21st Mille Miglia and retained 0418MD for the effort. As the chassis numbers of the participants were of no consequence Read More

Any slowdown in Vintage Bentley values due to the current economic climate is likely to push owners toward a cup of tea rather than Valium

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Chassis 356 was the first “Red Label” Bentley produced, and it was this model that was to lay the foundations of Bentley’s financial success. The final specification of the first Red Label, short chassis, Speed Model (generally known in the works as “Speed One”) Read More

It may not have been quite the “discovery” that the press suggested, but it was eagerly awaited

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Francis Richard Henry Penn Curzon succeeded to the peerage in 1929 on the death of his father, becoming the Fifth Earl Howe. At that time he resigned his seat in the House of Commons and began a long association with motor racing.

The long hood is a bit like a padded medieval codpiece

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This 1932 Daimler Double Six 40/50 Sport Saloon is, without question, one of the most imposing automobiles ever constructed by the legendary British marque-or any maker of exclusive luxury vehicles. While only 26 Double Sixes were built over a decade, the vast majority had a smaller displacement and short chassis. Among this rarified group, this 1932 Daimler Double Read More